Remix story!

[rivkat]

Remix IDs are out, so I can confess to Conjoined Twin (Separation Anxiety Remix), remix of Jed/Velvetglove's Siamese Twin. It's Smallville clonefic, NC-17 with all that implies.

For those of you who read it, I have a very, very spoilery poll I'd love for you to answer.

[Poll #462235]

Please feel free to expand on your theory in comments.

Comments

Because I had to

[philexos.livejournal.com]

Not that it really matters - but my conclusion was:

Joseph/Joseph

You left behind so many tantalizing hints that pulled in one direction and then in another but in the end it was a single line, and a line of thought that convinced me: He'd hoped for a more controllable outcome in a son, but Lex had been his own man for a while, even as a clone. And the line of thought beautifully served more than one purpose, the first establishing a sense of self for Joseph, and the other to further confuse the audience in the closing (I want to say, Chapter... so I'm gonna) chapter.

The premise of the story makes it an even more engaging read, hinging on whether or not memories can be cloned along with a human body, and an impossible ethical dilemma. A determination of who is The Real Lex Luthor can only be drawn from absolute truths as the ethical truth is: They both are. Absolute truths are nowhere in evidence in the story. There is only circumstantial evidence. Even the absolute truth that Lionel Luthor is balls-out crazy isn't a theory supportable by physical evidence.

In the end, it was my sympathy for Lex Luthor that made me comfortable at all with the resolution of the story. Now I'd like to read one where it's not an impossible thing for there to be two Lex Luthor's in the world.

Meantime, I was left with only one question. What the heck is a 'Trouser Press'?

*

And, just so I'm clear: I loved the story. It was complex and challenging and rife with conflict, both emotional and physical. It pushed at the edges of my comfort level (a tough thing to do to me). Nothing not absolutely great here. I could quote the whole story back to you, as each line is a gem and has focus and purpose. Let's just say my favorite parts were every time Joseph referred to Lex in the third person--as someone outside himself--and then, consciously thinking of himself in the first person, as 'Lex', immediately after his epiphany. You are a genius.

Now.

Tell us.

Who do you think is the Real Lex Luthor?

Re: Because I had to

[rivkat.livejournal.com]

I think you're right, in that they're both equally Lex Luthor, which is a real assault on the mental integrity of the formerly sole Lex Luthor. And he's justified, I think, in being a little upset, which shouldn't translate into "justified in killing the other," but for a Luthor does so translate.

A trouser press looks like this (http://www.howardluggage.com/ImgUpload/P_502937_1035772.JPG); if you use Google Images you can find some more pictures.